Improving gout treatment with engineered uricase
Official title: Advanced Uricase Engineering for Improved Outcomes in Gout Patients
Funded at Cyrus Biotechnology, INC. · NIH-11008432 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new version of an enzyme that helps lower uric acid levels, aiming to create a safer and more effective treatment for people with gout who haven't found relief with other options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cyrus Biotechnology, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $298,915 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AR084989-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11008432 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who suffer from chronic refractory gout and have not responded well to existing treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with mild gout or those who have not been diagnosed with chronic refractory gout may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new form of uricase, an enzyme that helps break down uric acid, to improve treatment outcomes for patients suffering from gout. By engineering variants of uricase that are more stable and less likely to trigger immune reactions, the research aims to create a safer and more effective therapeutic option. The approach involves screening different uricases from various organisms and using advanced computational modeling to enhance their properties. Patients with chronic refractory gout may benefit from this innovative treatment that aims to reduce adverse effects associated with current therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide gout patients with a more effective and safer treatment option, reducing the frequency and severity of gout attacks.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in engineering enzymes for therapeutic use, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in gout treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Cyrus Biotechnology, INC.
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Kui Kiu — Cyrus Biotechnology, INC.
- Study coordinator: Chan, Kui Kiu
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Treat-to-Target Urate in Gout: A New Approach for Better Pain and Health
A large clinical trial tests whether aiming for a specific uric acid level in gout patients improves symptoms and health outcomes compared with avoiding symptoms.
-
Translational Genomics in Gout: Linking GWAS Signals to Mechanisms
Aims to understand why some people with high uric acid develop gout by connecting genetic clues to the biology of joint inflammation.
-
Genetic clues to gout flares through cell gene activity in blood and joint fluid
Researchers will study how genes turn on or off in immune cells from blood and joint fluid during gout flares to understand why flares happen.
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Uric acid skin sensor to guide gout treatment and diet
A skin patch that measures uric acid in sweat is being tested to help people with gout manage their diet and medications better.
-
Wearable skin patch that tracks uric acid and metabolites for people with gout
A wearable skin patch will measure uric acid and other metabolites around meals to help people with gout make better diet and medication choices.
-
Gout and Kidney Disease: How gout changes as kidney disease gets worse and after kidney transplant
This project follows people with gout as their kidney disease progresses toward dialysis or transplant, using national kidney data to understand how often gout flares happen and how care needs change.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.